Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, (Romans 1:1 The Message)
Slaves
No one… absolutely no one… wants to be a slave. Great stories are told of slaves who yearned for none-slavery, fought for non-slavery, and found non-slavery.
But Paul brags about being a slave.
Not just a slave though; a slave of Jesus Christ.
Paul, probably the greatest theologian, bragged about being a slave. Paul, the Jew of Jews, bragged about being a slave. Paul, author of thirteen books of the Bible, bragged about being a slave. Paul, the most famous convert and preacher of his day, bragged about being a slave.
That turns our ambition upside down.
Bigger church or slave of Christ? More notches on our Bible or slave of Christ? Political power or slave of Christ? Mental data base of knowledge or slave of Christ? Best behaved family or slave of Christ? Prestigious job or slave of Christ? Dreams accomplished or slave of Christ? Fanciest car or slave of Christ?
Jesus Himself left heaven for dusty Judea. Jesus Himself left the right hand of His father for the road to the cross. Jesus himself, the perfect man, took our curse on Himself.
Be His slave.